PAYDEX Score Explained: How to Build Business Credit From Zero

What Is a PAYDEX Score?

PAYDEX is Dun & Bradstreet's business payment score. It runs from 0 to 100. Think of it like a personal credit score but specifically for how your business pays its bills.

Here's what the numbers mean:

A score of **80** means you paid exactly on time. A score of **100** means you paid early on every account. Paying 30 days early gets you to 100 faster than paying on the due date.

What You Need Before You Start

Your PAYDEX score won't generate until you have **at least 3 trade lines** reporting to D&B with payment history.

Net-30 Vendors That Report to D&B

**Crown Office Supplies** — Office supplies. Easy approval, no personal credit check, reports to D&B. Minimum first order ~$30–50.

**Quill** — Office supplies and business essentials. Owned by Staples. Net-30 available, reports to D&B.

**Uline** — Shipping and packaging supplies. Known for approving new businesses. Reports to D&B.

**CEO Creative** — Business merchandise and promotional items. Known in the credit community for easy approvals.

**Newegg Business** — Electronics and tech. If you're buying tech anyway, make it count toward your credit file.

The System

1. Apply to 3–5 vendors in the same month

2. Make a purchase on each account (buy something you actually need)

3. Pay **early** — before the 30 days is up

4. Repeat for 3–6 months

After 3 months of consistent early payments across 3+ trade lines, your PAYDEX should generate at 80+.

Common Mistakes

Business credit takes 6–12 months to build legitimately. Do it right and you'll have a credit profile that opens real doors.